Car retarder for railway switching yards



E. FR'O'LICH GAR RETARDER FOR RAILWAY SWI'IGRNIG YARDS Filed Feb. 21. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 6, 1931. E. FROLICH CAR RETARDER FOR RAILWAY SWITCHING YARDS -F'iled Feb. 21. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 NR 8 %N a MN I Patented Jan. 6, 1931 ,UNI'TED STATES am OFFICE I Enivsr 136 103, or ESSEN, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR To THE .HAn v uEa can Barnum I COMPANY, or GIBSON, INDIANA, A CORPORATION on ILLINOIS can RETARDER FQE RAILWAY swi'romne YA-Rns Application fi1ed February 21, .1927. serial no. 169,883. 7

My invention relates to improvements in railway car retarding apparatus adapted to be positioned at predetermined points along the track rails of a railway switching yard.

5 vThe principal object of the invention is to provide an'improvedapparatus of the above 7 character, the wheel gripping members of which are adapted to be moved into gripping engagement with theside faces of the car 9 wheels at a point near the top of the running rail, and to so construct and arrange the cooperating'parts of the apparatusthat the gripping members will be moved automatically bythe Weight ofthe car into frictional engagement with the wheels of the car so as to retard its movement and which will automatically relieve said grip on the wheels should the wheels raise relative to the track rail. 7

Another object is to provide apparatus of this character having wheel-gripping elements movable into engagement with the opposite side faces ofcar wheels, which gripping elements are supported in their opera- 25 tive position by mechanism adapted to absorb the shocks and thrusts to which the gripping members are subjected When in service and which means is resiliently movable to compensate for variations in size or posi- 39 tion of the car wheels.

Another object is to provide in an apparatus of the above character wheel gripping members which are movable horizontally into gripping engagement with the opposite side faces of the car wheels and which are maintained in their operative gripping engagement with the side faces of the car wheels by mechanism controlled at a remote pointin the railway switching .yard.

ratus of the above character wheel-gripping members which so cooperate with each other as to exert a yielding shackle grip-on opposite side faces of the railway car wheels an 7 which are moved into engagement with the side face of the wheel by themovement ofthe wheel passing over the apparatus.

Another object is to provide an apparatus of this character in which the wheel-gripping members may be moved to such position rela-.

Another object is to provide in an appa tive to the track rail as'to provide suflicient clearance for the rel'ati velywide locomotive wheels or other parts of a locomotive or railwaycar likely to interfere with the proper operation of the apparatus or likely to be injured byenga'gement with the apparatus.

A further and more specific'object of the invention is to provide reliable operating mechanism which may be actuated from a remote point so as to move the wheel gripping members into normal operative position an which may be further actuated to increase the gripping pressure of said members on the car wheels or to relieve said gripping pressure as may 'beide'sired.

The invention consists inthe new and improved arrangements, constructionsand com- 7 binations of parts and devices "hereinafter described and claimed for carrying out the above stated objects and such otherobjects as will appear from the detailed description of theembodiment ofthe invention shown in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters are used to designate like parts- Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan'view ofajportionof a retarding apparatus constructed 'in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectiontakenthrough the apparatus on line 2-2 ofFig. 1 'andshowing the car wheel gripping members in operative engagement with the side faces of car wheels, an

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

The embodiment of the invention herein illustrated consists of a plurality of wheelgripp'ing members designated generally by the reference characters 10 and 11 and arranged, respectively, along the outer and inner sides of each of the track-rails 13 and 14:, and a plurality of pressure exerting members 15 for positioning and supporting the wheel gripping members in their normal operative position adjacent the said track rails. The number of wheel gripping ,members employed in any particular apparatus will depend upon the length of the apparatus. The wheel gripping-members for frictionally em gaging the outside fac'esof the car wheels,

consist of a plurality of short bars 16, overlapped at their ends, and supported on pivoted supporting members 17 so that they are normally parallel to the outside faces of the rails 13 and 14. Relatively long brake shoe members 18ers. disposed adjacent each of the track rails and are secured to the short bars 16 so that movement of the latter toward the adjacenttrack rail will bring the shoe member intofrictional engagement with the outside faces of the car'wheels at opposite sides of the track. The supporting members 17 may be of any suitable'shape. In'the drawings I have shown these members as in- 13 and 14, so, that lateralmovement toward the track rails will bring the shoe members 18a into frictional engagement with the inside faces ofthe car wheels at opposite sides of'the'track- V I :Spaced connecting links '21, 21 are con-. nected at'22 to the pivoted members 17. The other ends; of these linkmembers are slid ably supported on a beam 23by means of shafts- 2424. ,Each of the shafts 24-24 support. a bell crank lever 25 having'a long arm'26 and a shortarm 27. The shortarm 27 of .each lever is bifurcated and carries a r0l1er'28, which bears against the inner edge of the short bars 16a. The extremity of the long arm 26 supports a bar 29 adapted 'to be depressed by the flanges of the car wheels. The bars 29.29 may be made of any desired length. For example. they may be made so as to extend the full length of one complete apparatus orthey may be made of such length as to be supportedby two or more of the levers 25'. A spring 30 is carried by the spring plate Sl supportedon the links 21-21 so as to bear upwardly on the long arm of the levers 25 so as to support the bar 29 in a position to be engaged by the flanges of the car wheels passing over the apparatus.

The beam 23 is pivotally supported at 31 by the pressure mechanism 15. The pressure mechanism is disposed near the center of the track so that pressure at one end of the beam will be equalizedby the pressure at the opposite end of the beam. The beam may be raised and lowered by the pressure mechanism sons to increase or release the pressure of the wheel gripping members on a car of the beam 23.

ln'operation, the pressure in the several cylinders 33 isnormaHy such as to support the beam 23 and wheel gripping members 10 and 11 in their normal operative positions. In this position of the mechanism, the bars 2929 are in position adjacent each of the rails to be engaged by the flange of thecar wheels. When the bars 29-29 are engaged by the flanges of the car wheels, the bars are depressed andthereby rock the levers 25 so as'to' force the rollers 28 against the short bars 16a and thereby force the shoe members 186! 180,,against the inner faces of thecar wheelsat opposite sides of the track. As soon as the gripping members are in engagement with the inner faces of the car wheels, thefurther downward movement of; the' levers 25 slides the shafts 2424 longitudinally ofthe equalizer beam 23 and simultaneously move the outer gripping members 101O into engagement with the outer faces of the car wheels. This gripping action effects, as it will be seen. a yielding toggle grip on opposite faces of each of the car wheels. In the event that the wheels raise with relation to the track rails, the upward movement will permit the levers 25 to move upwardly and thereby relieve the pressure of the wheelgripping members on opposite sides of the car wheels. The fluid pressure exerted against piston 32 provides a resilient cushion for absorbing the shocks and pressures produced bythe engagement ofthe wheel flanges with the bars 29-29. The initial engagement of the wheel gripping members with the wheels of a car will'depress the piston to the position indicated in Fig. 2. The resiliency of the fluid pressure forces the equalizer bar upwardly and thereby tends to increase the pressure of the wheel engaging members on opposite faces of the car wheel.

By releasing'the pressure in the cylinder 33, the equalizer will be lowered, thereby permitting the wheel gripping members to be moved transversely and downwardly with respect to theirrnormal operative position, and thereby provide sufficient clearance to permit the relatively Wide drive wheels of locomotives to pass over the apparatus without being engaged by the wheel gripping members. This release of the pressure in the cylinders '33 will also permit the train to be moved, as

a' 'whole, without any'frictional resistance on the part ofthe vretarding apparatus; 7 While I have illustrated an apparatus which Inow regard as my preferred embodiment, it will be understood, however, that theapparatus may be'imodified in various ways without material "departure from the construction and equivalents of devices shown. It willtherefore be understood that I contemplate all such modifications in structure as come within'the scope of the appended claims. r r

' Icl'aim: Inapparatus for retarding movement of railway cars, a wheel engaging member movable substantially horizontally into frictional Engagement with a side face of a wheel, a lever positioned to be rocked downwardly by the wheel'and formed toengage said wheel engaging member to force it into engagement with the wheel, and means for supportingthe wheel engagingtm'ember in'its normal operative position relative to the track rail and for increasing the pressure of said engaging member against said wheel. 4

' 2. apparatusifor retarding movement of railway cars,'wheel"engaging members disposedadjacent thetrack rails on opposite sides of said rails and movable into frictional vengagementwiththe side faces of railway car rwheels, an equalizer beam extending transversely of' the track, a lever supported I by each end of the equalizer in a position to be depressed by the wheels of a car passing over the said apparatus, said levers being formed to engage certain of said wheel engaging members to force each of saidmembers into engagement with the wheels.

3. In apparatus :for retarding the move ment of railway cars, wheel engaging members disposed adjacent the track rails at opposits sides of the track and movable into frictional engagement with the side faces-of railway car wheels, an equalizerbeam extendmg transversely of the track, a lever supported by each end iof'the equalizer in a position to be depressed by the Wheels of the car passing over the apparatus, said levers being formed to engage certain of said wheel engaging members to force each of said membersinto engagement with the wheels, and resilient pressure means for supporting said equalizer in its operative position.

l. In apparatus for retarding the move ment of railway cars, wheel engaging members disposed on opposite sides of each of the track rails, and movable substantially horizontally into gripping engagement with the inner and outer side facesof the wheels of the car passing over the apparatus, an equalizer beam extending transversely of the track, 7 links attached at their outer ends to the wheel engaging members for engaging the outside faces of the "wheels and slid'ably supported at their inner ends on the opposite ends of said equalizer beam, levers by theinner ends of said links in position to be depressed by said car 'whee1s;'said levers being formed. to engage the wheel engaging members for bearing against the inner faces of the car wheels whereby the depressing of said levers forces the wheel grippingmembers into "frictional engagement with the opposite side faces of the car wheels. v a

5. In apparatus for retarding the movement of railway cars, wheel engaging members'disposed on opposite-sides of each of the track rails and movable substantially horizontally into gripping enga ement with the inner and outer side faces 0 the wheels of a car passing over the apparatus, an equalizer beam extending transversely of the track links attached at their outer ends to the wheel engaging members for engaging the outer faces ofthe car wheels and slidably supbers supported on pivoted supporting arms at opposite sides of each of the track rails and movable substantially horizontally into gripping engagement'wath the inner and outer side faces of the wheels of a car passing over the apparatus, an equalizer beam extending transversely of the track, links attached at their outer ends" to the wheel engagingjmembers for engaging the outside faces of the wheel, andslida-bly supported at their inner ends on the opposite l end of said equalizer beam, levers carried by the inner ends of said links in position to be depressed by said car wheel; the said levers being formed to engage the wheel-engaging member for bearing against the inner faces I of the car wheels, whereby the depressing of said lever forces thewheel gripping members into frictional engagement with the opposite side faces of the car wheels.

7. In apparatus for retarding the movement of railway cars; wheel engaging members comprising a plurality of short bars arranged along opposite sides of each of the track rails and provided with brake shoes and adapted to be moved substantially horizontally into gripping engagement with the inner and outer side faces of car Wheels passing over the apparatus, an equalizer beam extending transversely of the track, links attached, at their outer ends to the a side faces of the wheel and slidablysupported at their inner ends on the opposite ends of said equalizer beam, levers carried by the inner ends of said llnks in position to be depressed by said car wheels; the said levers being formed to engage the wheel-ei'iga 'ing membersifor bearing against the innerraces of the car wheels, whereby the depressing of said levers forces the wheel gripping. memhere into frictional engagement with theopposite sidetfaces .of the .car wheels.

'8.In apparatus for retarding the move-v menti'of railway cars, wheel engaging mem: bers comprising a plurality of short bars overlapped at their ends and supported on the upper end of pivoted arms so as to be moved substantially horizontally into gripping engagement with the inner. and outer faces of car wheels passing over the apparatus, an equalizer beam extending transversely of the track, links attached at their outer ends to wheel engaging members for engaging the outside faces of the wheels and slidably supported at their inner ends on the opposite'ends of said equalizer beam, levers carried by the inner end of said links and formed with a long arm and a short arm; the said long arm of said lever beingattached to, a bar extending longitudinally of the apparatus and adapted to be depressed by the flange of the car wheel passing over the apparatus and the said short arm being formed with a roller adapted to engage the inner edge of the wheel-engaging member for gripping theinner faces of the car wheel, whereby downward movement of the long arm of said lever forces the wheel gripping members into engagement with faces of the car wheels.

9. In a vehicle retarder for railway rolling stock, the combination of vehicle wheel engaging shoes, said shoes being disposed adjacent fixed railroad rails, means for setting said shoes in braking position, saidmeans includopposite 7 ing a bell crank operated by vehicle wheel contact with one leg thereof, the other leg thereof contacting a portion of said shoe-,to move the shoe to said braking position. 10. In a vehicle retarder for railway rolling stock, the combination of vehicle wheel engaging shoes, said shoes being disposedadjacent fixed railroad rails, means for setting said shoes in braking position, said means including a bell crank operated by vehicle Wheel contact with one leg thereof, the other leg thereof contacting a portion of said shoe to move the shoe to said braking position, and resilient means for returning said bell crank to inoperative position. 7

11. In avehicle retarder for railway rolling stock, the combination of vehicle wheel engaging shoes, said shoes being disposed adj acent fixedirailroad rails, means for setting said shoes in braking position,,said means ineluding a bell crank operatediby vehicle wheel contact withone leg thereofythe other leg thereof contacting a portionofsaidshoe' to move the shoe to said braking position, and meanscooperating; with said" bell crank whereby braking pressures and operation of said shoes may be selectively varied; 1 I

12. In a car retarder, the combination of brake shoes disposedon either side-of-a rail and-adapted to be moved into brakingengagement with a car wheel, a wheel actuated member pivotally mounted on a float-ing member pivoted to one of said shoes, said wheelactuated member being adapted to be moved into engagement with the other ofsaid shoes to move said other shoe to braking position and to thereby cause said floating member to move said first named'shoe to brakingposit-ion. 13. Inca car retarder, the combination of brake shoes disposed'on either; sideof' arail and adapted to befmoved into braking engageme'ntwith a car wheel, a wheel actuated member pivotally mounted on a floating 'member pivoted to one of said shoes, said wheel-actuated member being adapted to be moved into engagement with the. other of said shoes to movesaid other shoe to braking position and to thereby cause said floating member to-move said firstnamed shoe to brakingrposition, and means cooperating'with' said wheel actuated member. whereby braking pressures and operation ofsaid shoes may beselectivelyvaried.

114. In acar retarding device, the coinbina-- tion of brake shoes disposed on'each side of track rails, said brake shoes being mounted on articulated members pivotally mounted adjacent said rails, floating members pivotals ly connected to-brake shoes disposed on one side of said-rails and eachi exten'ding to a point adjacent brake shoes on the opposite sides ofsaid rails, bell cranks pivotally carried by said floating members and operatively engaging the articulated members ofsaid last named brake shoes, said bell cranks each having an arm adapted to be engaged by the wheel of a track vehicle tothereby move said last named brake shoes into wheel engaging position to cause actuation of said floating member to move said other brake shoes into wheel engaging braking position. I .1

'15. In a car retarding device, the combination of brake shoes disposed on each side of track rails, said brake shoes being mounted on articulated members pivotally mounted .adjacent said rails, floating members pivotally connected to brake shoes disposed on one side of said rails and each extending to-a point adjacent brake shoes on the opposite sides of said rails, bell cranks pivotally carried by said floating members and operatively engaging the articulated members of said last named brake shoes, said bell cranks each having an arm adapted to'be engaged by the wheel of a track vehicle to thereby move said lastnamed brake shoes-into wheel engaging for returning said brake shoes to inoperative position. 1 I

16. In a car'retarding device, the combination of brake shoes disposed on each side of track rails, said brake shoes being mounted on articulated members pivotally mounted adj a- I cent said rails, floating members pivotally connected to brake shoes disposed on one side of said rails andieach extending to a point adjacent brake shoes on the opposite sides of said rails, bell cranks pivotally car ried by said floating members and operatively engaging the articulated members of said last named brake shoes, said bell cranks each having an arm adapted to be engaged by the wheel of a track vehicle to thereby move said last named brake shoes into wheel engaging position to cause actuation of saidfloating member to move said other brake shoes into wheel engaging braking position, resilient means cooperating with said bell cranks for returning said brake shoes to inoperative position, and means cooperating with said bell cranks whereby braking pressures and operation of said shoes may be selectively varied. 17, In a car retarding device, the combination of brake shoes disposed on each sideof track rails, said brake shoes being mounted on articulated members pivotally mounted adjacent said rails, floating members pivotally connected to brake shoes disposed on one side of saidrails and eachextending to a point adjacent brake shoes on the opposite sides of said rails, bell cranks pivotally carried by said floating members andoperatively engaging the articulated members of said last named brake shoes, said bell cranks each having an arm adapted to be engaged by the wheel of a track vehicle to thereby move said last named-brake shoes into wheel engaging position to cause actuation of said floating member to move said other brake shoes into wheel engaging braking position, resilient means cooperating with said bell cranks for returning said brake shoes to inoperative position, and means cooperating with said floating members for moving said floating members and bell cranks whereby braking pressures and operation of said shoes may be selectively varied.

18. In a car retarding device, the combination of a brake shoe disposed adjacent a track rail, a floating member connected to said shoe and extending to a point on the op-v posite side of said ra il, a member pivotally mounted on said floating member on said opposite side of the rail, said member having a portion engaged by a vehicle wheel moving on said rail to thereby move said mem-, ber, said member having another portion said first namedportion by engagement by a vehicle wheel moves said floating member with respect tosaid fulcrum to cause said brake shoe to move to braking position. i

19. In a car retarding device, the combination of a brake shoe disposed adjacent a track rail, a fioatingmember connected to said shoe and extending to apoint on the opposite side offsaid rail, a member pivotally mounted on said floating member on said opposite side of the rail; said member having a .portionengaged 'by a vehicle wheel moving-on said rail to thereby move said M member, said member having another por tion forming a] fulcrum whereby movement.

of said first named portion by engagement by a vehicle wheel moves said floating mem ber with respect to said fulcrum to cause 7 said brake shoe" to move to brakin position, and means for returningsaid bra e shoe to inoperative position when said vehiclewheel moves out of contact with said first named portion.

20. In a car retarding device, the combi nation of a brakeshoe disposed adjacent a track rail, a floating member connected to said shoe'and having anend adjacent said rail, a member pivotally mounted on said floating member on said end, said member having a portion engaged by a vehicle wheel moving. on said rail to thereby-move said member, said member having another. portion forming a fulcrum whereby movement of said first named portion by engagement by a vehicle wheel moves said floating meme berwith respect to said fulcrum to cause said brake shoe to move to braking position.

21. In a car retarding device, the combination of a brake shoe] disposed adjacent a track rail, a floating member connected to said shoe and having an end adjacent said rail, a member pivotally mounted on said floating member on said end, said member having a portion engaged by a vehicle wheel moving on said rail to thereby move said member, said member having another portion forminga fulcrum whereby movement of said first named portion by engagement by a vehicle wheel moves said floating member with respect to said fulcrum to cause said brake shoe to move to braking position, and means for returning said brake shoe to inoperative position when said vehicle wheel moves out of contact with said first. named portion.

{ERNST FR'o IoH. 

